The other cop-out I see here is something about "fighting fraud" in the system and that this bill serves to help mitigate that . . .
'scuse me?
Here Senator - go put on your DUNCE Cap and sit in the corner. We're going to discuss how PRIVATE BUSINESS handles fraud in the health care industry.
Point ye olde browsers to the following link:
IBM FAMS (Fraud and Abuse Management System)
http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03004c/businesscenter/smb/us/en/solutionsummary/xmlid/25192
Since a number of you are click-phobic, allow me:
Healthcare fraud and abuse raises costs, decreases profits and diverts the attention of private insurers, government programs, HMOs and other organizations that strive to provide quality care at reasonable rates. The IBM Fraud and Abuse Management System (FAMS) can help your organization combat the pervasive and persistent issue of healthcare fraud.
Advantages:
IBM FAMS is a combination of software and services designed to help investigators and auditors identify and analyze suspect providers and claims.
FAMS supports a full spectrum of antifraud and abuse activity — detection, investigation, settlement and prevention — and includes tools for basic and advanced data mining, drill-down reporting, and visualization techniques.
In addition, FAMS offers an application for analyzing clinical and cost data that falls outside norms during statistical analyses — the IBM Medical Profiling System. This system is designed for medical-management, medical-informatics, provider-relations, cost-containment, disease-management and physician-profiling departments.
Benefits:
* Sort through information on tens of thousand of providers and tens of millions of claims in minutes
* Rank providers in relation to their peers — within specific geographic regions, specialties, subspecialties and other parameters to identify providers who fall outside norms
* Drill down into detailed information on providers’ clinical and claims practices
* Build suspicion indices based on nearly 1,000 behavioral patterns in more than 20 specialties
* Gain comprehensive software and services, including information systems design, architecture, consulting, implementation, project management and customization to your environment, as well as an option for ongoing support
Now sir, if you were truly concerned about fraud, abuse, and waste within the system, and if you truly are concerned about taking the CONSERVATIVE, NON-GOVERNMENTAL approach, would it not be in the best interest of the General Assembly to offer economic incentives to insurance companies to employ such systems as this that operate within or provide service to folks in South Carolina?
Before you call this program a pipe dream or something that isn't used, you need to go knock on the doors of some of South Carolina's more prominent health insurance companies.
Oh, and by all accounts, HIPPA uses FAMS too.
- SSHM
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yes, got to the ribbon cutting. The money for this project from the state was through DHEC, if I recall correctly.
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There's never been any money in any budget for this project. Once again, knucklehead, read the bill. Please, please leave this post so that we can have even a minimal amount of confidence in the things written here.
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This little peeing contest sounded familiar to me, so I did some research. From a column by Nick Charalambous titled "Fact Checking Cindy Wilson" dated July 26, 2006, and dealing with Wilson's allegation that Joey Preston had "illegally" shifted money from the county's General Fund to purchase land in Powdersville for a lilbrary, the Dolly Cooper Park and a convenience center:
"The Administrator recently diverted approximately $1.5 million of funds budgeted for courthouse expansion and security to purchase land on the Saluda River without the Council's knowledge. This purchase was not in the budget or in the general obligation bond ordinance." - Cindy Wilson, as quoted to Jena Trammell in the July 12 Times Examiner.
Again, Ms. Wilson raises a valid point, one which was the target of a series of Independent-Mail FOIs: The purchase of the M.J. Dolly Cooper Park. The reporter who invested several months into that investigation left without completing it but she did confirm that there was a lack of transparency about the transaction, even if it could not be proved that it occurred against the will of the county council. I'm interested in reopening our investigation.
Yet again, hoewever, Ms. Wilson overreaches: she suggests that there was an illegal budget transfer. The problem is that the money she says was budgeted for courthouse expansion and security wasn't. I read the budget thoroughly at the time, and I wrote extensively about the fact that the county council wasn't ready to set aside that money.
Mr. Preston's response supports my contention (although you should note that the purchase appears to be justified as part of the property purchase for library/convenience centers, which is a huge stretch.):
"This statement is a complete falsehood, a.k.a., a lie. First, I, nor anyone at the County, transferred $1.5 million to purchase land anywhere. The land being referred to is approx 48 acres that was purchased for the Powdersville Library and the Powdersville Convenience/Recycling Center. The total amount paid at closing for the 48 acres was $669,031.94, which is not anywhere near the $1.5 million figure that Ms. Wilson is quoted as saying it cost. A portion of this tract is being also considered as the site of what is being called the Dolly Cooper Park. The development of this parcel for park use is contingent upon state funding."The land was purchased from funds from the County’s 2005 general obligation bond proceeds. The general obligation bond states, in part, that:
“The proceeds derived from the sale of the Bonds shall be applied for any of the following purposes: (a) acquiring real property and constructing and equipping public libraries in Powdersville and Pendleton; (b) upgrading and equipping the County’s solid waste convenience centers including the purchase of real property…”
To sum, this land acquisition was approved by County Council and was a part of the bond ordinance. The physical location of the land is Spearman Circle and consists of Tax Map Numbers 236-00-02-044, 236-00-02-045, and 236-00-02-058.
END CHARALAMBOUS NOTES and JOEY QUOTE.
Okay, note the issue of the purchase of the property was questioned, and that issue was resolved sort of. Major Taylor, those funds to purchase the property were, in deed, a part of a budget at one time. They had to be.
Now, note a part of Joey Preston's comments on the project: "A portion of this tract is being also considered as the site of what is being called the Dolly Cooper Park. The development of this parcel for park use is contingent upon state funding."
See that? "The development of this parcel for park use is contingent upon state funding ... "
Sooooo ... either state funding paid for the development of the park, or Preston let the project move ahead without the promised funding - i.e., he put the cart before the horse. I seriously doubt that is what he did, but Major Taylor, if funds for this project were NEVER in any budget, as you claim, that's exactly what you're accusing Preston of doing.
I believe the Governor's veto of those state funds was overridden, as most of his vetoes have been in recent years. And as far as DHEC funds, DHEC regularly provides funding for the construction of convenience centers and other recycling facilities, so I have no reason to doubt Sen. Bryant's contention that some DHEC funds went into the overall project.
As for other funds, they may have been funds through the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (a department that has had its own financial issues in recent years with maintenance of state parks) or possibly from the Federal government through LWCS (Land and Water Conservation Funds), a pool of money that carries its own albatross with it.
But there was certainly some outside funding involved - unless Joey Preston wasn't telling the truth in 2006 when he said development of that park was contingent upon state funds being pledged - and funds for the project have most certainly appeared in several budgets over the years.
And don't call people "knucklehead." Knucklehead.
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OK, Here's what I got from DHEC: Our office awarded funding to Anderson County during fiscal year 2006-2007 for equipment to be placed at the Powdersville site for the collection of used motor oil. Funding included $4450 for an oil tank, $850 for a carport cover to be placed over the tank, and $500 for a concrete pad. The project was delayed and the pad did not get installed at that time, but they were able to purchase the oil collection tank and carport cover. The tank would be used to collect used motor oil from do-it-yourself oil changers and the cover would be placed over the tank.
I'm not sure if the pad they're refering to is in place now. I got this info after we were there this morning and didn't notice. Does anyone know?
I'm not sure if the pad they're refering to is in place now. I got this info after we were there this morning and didn't notice. Does anyone know?
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I've worked with Medicaid on a similar system that flags unusual quantities, high dosages, etc. but I'm not sure if it is extensive as this FAMS. Would be a great thing to look into. Emma Forkner, the new director of DHHS, is doing an outstanding job "thinking outside the box" to look for ways to save funds, yet keep a high quality of care.
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Kevin,
Stop playing dumb here. Cooper got $700,000 of our state income tax dollars back here to Anderson County for several projects, including about $400K for Dolly Cooper Park in YOUR DISTRICT. You VOTED to uphold MARK SANFORD's veto of the money for Dolly Cooper Park. Fortunately, Cooper and others in the General Assembly had the clout to override the veto of YOU, your Governor and your buddy Michael Thompson. At least Sanford had the decency not to show up at the ribbon cutting.
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Okay, I won't call you a knucklehead. How about idiot? There's no surprise in the fact that you're drinking from the Preston Kool Aid Fountain, also known as county expense account. What is surprising is to what extent you'll take someone's word for gospel. So, you go find the line in the budget where this money was earmarked, and you produce the veto message of the governor and you link us to the journal wherein that veto was overridden. Then, when you can't do those things, you get out your Ouija board and summon V. O. Key and ask him how explain the fact that you've been played like a cheap violin.
Things sure must be slow in the real estate business right now.
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Hey Knucklehead, since you're probably too dysfnctional to scroll up, I'll repeat what I told you upstairs in response to your other personality, SSHM.
"So, you go find the line in the budget where this money was earmarked, and you produce the veto message of the governor and you link us to the journal wherein that veto was overridden. Then, when you can't do those things, you get out your Ouija board and summon V. O. Key and ask him how explain the fact that you've been played like a cheap violin."
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He's not playing dumb, he can't help it.....
Everyone says "you can't fix stupid." Guess what? They're wrong, this election is one of the few cases where you actually have the chance to fix "Stupid" for once, and can easily do so by voting for Meadors.
Bryant is nothing more than a party line bobble head that just does what his party wants without question. Then he "blogs" in a sad attempt to blow smoke up your ass with the vain hope that you'll actually believe that Mr. 1 and 31 has actually accomplished something. Really, he can't even come up with any useful legislation that actually helps people or the community on his own. Now, I hate Democraps, but what I hate worse than a liberal Democrap are the political lemmings like Bryant that just blindly follow their party without question. It's a$$holes like that all the way from the local level all the way up to DC that are at fault for the problems we have now. Now, lets give others a chance and not send ANY of them back, they've all failed now its time to replace 'em.
Hey Kevin, if I had a 0.032 success rate in my job, I'd be unemployed overnight, just like you should be ......
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JD:
Someone on this blog once told me that insulting people would have a negative affect on my credibility.
Who was that? And, was that good advice? (smile face - I can't seem to get the little devils to work)
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Major - or should it be "Private?"
What about when MCW uses words like, criminal, illegal, diverted, knowing that the media will pick them out and focus on them? She is misleading the public. Preston has never been charged (let alone been found guilty) of a criminal, illegal action. Seems to me, you drink the Kool-Aid yourself. Opps, I used a Stanley line, shame on me.
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Yeah, well, some fine minister in a church I used attend told me that Jesus said if somebody hits me, I should turn the other cheek. I tried that once. After that, I was out of "other cheeks" to turn.
Your credibility is your concern, not mine. My credibility is my concern, not yours. How simple can this be?
I do think the opinions of people who cannot engage in public debate without name calling lose something in translation. Sadly, I've engaged in that type of name calling myself on The Cocklebur.
BUT I DON'T DO IT just for sport, as you, SSHM, Dunebuggy/Friedgreenmater, Zn, Hankey and others do. I use it to make point. The exchange with ever-charming Jack Ruby (with whom I often disagree, but who I have enormous respect for) was a misunderstanding. The exchange with the always-condescending SSHM (with whom I often agree in principle, but have virtuallly NO respect for) was not ...
I guess it's up to you and everybody else to figure out what my game is here, huh?
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Try to stay on subject (and learn how to spell). Find the earmark, or move on.
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Key word is virtually JD ... as this is an online forum. If this were Lincoln-Douglass style debate, we'd be a LOT more civil. Sadly, civility was run over by the tank of anonymity some time ago. So sorry that I appear arrogant. Oh wait ... I am.
Again, your force my hand in quoting an American Genius:
Early in my career I was a very arrogant yound man.. I was so sure of my ground and my star that I had to choose between an honest arrogance and a hypercritical humility... and I deliberately choose an honest arrogance, and I've never been sorry. - Frank Lloyd Wright
Honestly arrogant. Where is the issue, as I fail to see a problem here?
- SSHM
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WPD, your numbers are right, as far as they go, but so far,Dan Cooper has provided $1.3 million for the park Joey named after his daddy.BTW, the recycling center is theonly thing that has been done so far. The rest of the site might as well be planted to hay.
And when Dan told me he got snookered into the first $400K by that Preston tactic, I was dumb enough to believe him. That's before he and Joey Ray and Brian and those boys all crawled intot he SCV bed together over in Powdersville. Fool me once, shame onyou, fgoll me twice,shame on me.
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blogger, I do think that Bryant's campaign will use abortion and gay marriage, but only because his opponent leaves those things wide open. I will state again, much to petunia's dismay, that Bryant is a sincere and honest man. The Senator and I could debate public education all day long. However, the man is honest. And, that, despite the crass and cynical approach by most on this forum is something to embrace. I will take the honest guy I argue with against the guy who hedges his positions to get elected.
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Jd, I am with you brother. Trying to compare liberal big government bereaucrat Joey Preston with Senator Bryant is like saying the sun rise in the East each morning because Joey asked the Senator to make it happen. It is just crazy.
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I don't think Meadors is hedging coke, I think he believes they are non-issues at this time and is not allowing himself to get distracted by them.
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I appreciated the invitation, but if we weren't supposed to be there, why did ya'll invite us?
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